Bridge table



June 18, 1940. o. QU|L| |N Er AL 2,204,822

BRIDG LE Filed ne 6, 1939 2 Sheets Sheet l June 18, 1940. QU|| |N ET AL 2,204,822

BRIDGE TABLE Filed June 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 18, 1940 BRIDGE TABLE Leland Quillin and Roy L. Cook, Matoaka, W. Va

Application June 6, 1939, Serial No. 277,724

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of games and game devices and pertains particularly to an improved table top structure for use in the playing of duplicate bridge.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a table top or a play surface wherein novel means is provided for supporting or storing a number of hands of cards for each of the four players at the table whereby successive games may be played without the delay incident to the making and dealing of the cards as the hands for the successive games will be ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bridge table top which is so constructed as to speed up the games by the provision of novel means for indicating the suits bid by each of the players and for indicating the amount of each bid by each player so that the several players at the table may be able to see at a glance how the bidding stands instead of having to make inquiry of the other players.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bridge table top structure in which rotary indicator units are provided for the use of each player, by means of which he may indicate his suit bid or may indicate a pass, a double or a redouble and also indicate the number of. his bid or, in other words, the nuinber of tricks which he contemplates taking if he obtains the bid.

A further object is to provide in a bridge table top structure a novel means for arranging ready for use, a number of hands of cards for each player and storing such hands in a receptacle in the table in such a manner that the table may be readily shifted about without danger of the cards escaping from the compartments in they are placed, the said card carrying compart ments being readily removable for reversing so that the cards may be easily, accessible when the table is to be used for playing.

The invention will be best understood from. a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or'modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 1 Fig. 1 is a view in top planjof a card table top which constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. .2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view, in plan on an enlarged scale of one of the suit indicators.

an a sectional view on the line 4-4'0f Fig. 1..

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in plan of a card drawer removed from the table. b

Fig. '7 is a view in plan of a card drawer carrier.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of. an intermediate wall. forming a cover for the light casing.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a portion of the table top taken horizontally on the line 99 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the rotary indicator-disks carried by the intermediate wall. portion.

As previously set forth, the present invention relates to an improved table top structure, therefore, although Fig. 2 illustrates portions which may constitute legs for the table, which portions or legs are indicated by the numerals I, it is to be understood that the present invention may be provided as a play board or top to be mounted upon an ordinary table as well as being provided as a complete or finished table with attached legs.

In carrying out the present invention, the structure is provided with a rectangular upwardly opening chamber indicated generally by the numeral 2, as shown in Fig. 9; This chamber is provided to house in each of its four sections a the line 5-5 of s PATENT OFFICE.

plurality of. electric lights 3, the same being here shown as eleven in number for each of the four chamber portions and at each end of each group of eleven lights is what may be termed an indicator light for use in connection with the adjustable indicators hereinafter more particularly described.

While it is not essential that the tabletop be constructed with a full bottom wall, such a wall is nevertheless-here illustrated and indicated by the numeral 5. This wall may be in a single rectangular piece or may be divided into the four matched triangles in which the top surface of the table is illustrated in Fig. 1. The light chamber 2 at each of the four sides of the table is formed by providing'the upstanding walls 6 which are carried upon the bottom wall 5 and in the bottom part of each of the four portions of the rec-- tangular chamber 2, an upwardly facing mirror l is placed which will reflect upwardly the light rays from the electric lamps 3 and 4.

Resting upon the top edges of the flanges or walls 6 which define the rectangular chamber is an intermediate wall which is shown in part in Fig. 8, and is generally indicated by the numeral 8. This intermediate wall, while shown as being formed in sections,-may be in a single piece if desired, and at each of its four corners is a rectangular block 9 which stands above the top surface of the intermediate wall body and has formed therein the two circular recesses I0 and H. These recesses as shown in Fig. 8, open through the adjacent outer sides of the blocks 9 for the purpose hereinafter described. There are thus provided two of these recesses for each of the four sides of the table and it will be noted that one of the recesses which is indicated by the numeral ID, has a central opening I 2 through the bottom thereof and has seven openings I3 arranged concentrically thereabout While the other recess H! has a central opening l4 and eight other openings l5 arranged concentrically thereabout. Each of the recesses I El and II lies over a light 4.

Paralleling each of the four sides of the intermediate or cover wall 8, the wall has formed therethrough between the adjacent corner blocks 9, the elongated light window 56. Each of these windows l5 overlies a portion or the rectangular light chamber 2 and covers the area of the underlying chamber portion in which lie the group of lights 3. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, each adjacent pair of recesses l0 and I l is connected by a substantially V-shaped slot IT in which is secured a V-spring ii], the free end of each leg of which projects into an adjacent recess and has a button i9 upon its outer side.

In each of the recesses ll there is located a disk 20 which has a central opening through which extends a tubular bearing sleeve 2!, as shown in Fig. 5, which bearing sleeve extends through the opening 12. This dish 20 is provided with a semicircular slot 22, the central part of which is of the same radius as the arcuate line on which the centers of the series of openings I3 lies so that when the disk 20 is turned in its recess, the openings 43 may be successively uncovered. The edge of the disk ZEI is notched, as at 23, for engagement by the button of the adjacent arm of the spring latch ii]. In each of the recesses H3 is a disk 24 which is provided with a central opening through which passes a pivot sleeve 25 which extends through the central opening M of the recess and this disk 25 is provided with a single aperture 26 which is arranged at the proper radial distance from the center of the disk so that it may be moved into registry with any one of the eight apertures 15. This disk is also notched in its periphery, as indicated at 27, for engagement by the button of the other arm of the V-spring it which is between it and the slotted disk 2!).

Resting upon the top surface of the wall 8 to overlie each of the slots i6 therein is a slide plate 28 which is illustrated in top plan in Fig. 7. This plate is provided upon its top and at each end with a key 29 and between the keys 29, this plate has eleven rectangular openings or frames 30 formed therethrough. Pull members 3| connected to the front edge of each plate 28 facilitate the shifting of the plates for the purpose hereinafter described, and the outer edge of each of the plates is provided with the downturned lip 32, as shown in Fig. 4, which limits the inward movement of the plate.

Adapted to position between each of the pair of corner blocks 3 of the intermediate wall 8 is an elongated rectangular body which is generally indicated by the numeral 3-3, and which may be referred to as a card drawer, this body being shown in plan in Fig. 6. This card drawer rests upon the slide plate 28 and lies ever the frames or openings 30 thereof and is provided with a corresponding number of openings or frames 36 which are arranged for registry with the frames 30. At each end the drawer 3-! provided on both faces with key slots which are designed to receive the keys 29 so that each drawer 33 and the slide plate 28 on "which it is supported are coupled together.

In addition to having the transverse openings or frames 34 formed therethreugh, each drawer is provided in its front edge with the series of slots 35 corresponding in number with the frames 34 and each opening into an end of a frame. Each of these slots 36 is of slightly greater width the the frame 3 with which it is associated and the opposite sides of each of the frames are grooved or slotted, as shown in Fig. 6, and indicated by the numeral 37, so that when a group of cards is inserted into a slot it may so moved in the full length of the frame and cover or fill the same. It will thus be seen that there are provided in the drawer 33 eleven receptacles for the reception of groups of cards, each receptacle opening by way of the slot 36 through a side edge of the drawer. When a receptacle contains a group of cards, the frame will be filled or covered thereby.

The top wall of the table is indicated generally by the numeral 38. This is shown as being, divided in four triangular portions which are fitted together to form a rectangle, but it will be apparent that this wall. may be of single piece of material, if desired. The top wall of the table top has set therein at the ends of each of its four sides the glass panels 39 and 66, each of the panels 39 being disposed over a series of apcrtures 4| which are arranged above and con--.

centrically with the apertures 15 of the recesses ll. Each of the panels 39 also overlies an open-- ing 42 which is alined with the tubular sleeve 2! which passes through the opening ii. of the recess H. These panels 33 are arranged at the left-hand side of the player occupying the side of the table on which the panels are located and constitute the number indicator for that player by which he is able to indicate the number of his bid, the apertures being seven in number enabling the player to indicate a bid of from one to seven in the selected suit.

The panel 40 is located at the right of each plate and this panel has painted thereon, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, the symbols for the four suits, which symbols are indicated by the numeral 4|, a symbol 42 indicating no trump, the letter P as indicated at 53 designates pass, and the letters D and Rd, as indicated at M and 45, respectively, designating double and redouble. These several symbols overlie corresponding openings in the top wall which are alined with the openings I5 and these alined openings are normally separated by the imperforate portion of the disk 24 which lies within the recess ii). The plate 40 is employed to designate the suit bid or, as will be readily understood, the players intention to pass, to double or to redouble, and

may be generally referred to as the suit indicator.

Lying between each pair of indicators at each side of the table top is a series of eleven colored panels each overlying an opening 34 of the drawer 33. These panels are translucent so that light from the chamber 2 may pass therethrough when no cards are in the card slots 36. The panels at two opposite sides of the table as for example, those lying before the players North and South, are alternately colored starting at each end with green or blue and alternating with red, while those panels lying at the other two opposite sides of the table or lying before East and West are in groups of two of one color alternating with groups of two of another color, as for example, the panels at the right-hand end of the group in front of East and those at the lefthand end of the group in front of West start with two colored blue or green.- The next two panels are colored red and then two more of blue or green, the groups alternating in this order to the opposite ends where the last panel is colored red. Thus it will be seen that the oppositely positioned groups of colored panels for North and South have the corresponding colors alined transversely of the table and for the groups in front of East and West, the corresponding colors of the panels are also alined. For purposes of identification between the dark-colored blue or green panels and the bright-colored or red panels, the dark-colored panels are indicated by the numeral 46 while the bright-colored or red panels are indicated by the numeral 41.

It will be observed that certain of the panels of each group bears a dark spot 48. These spots are located upon different panels in the several groups. For example, starting with West, the spot 48 is upon the first panel of the group at the left-hand of the player and proceeding to North, the spot 48 is upon the second panel of the group at the players right. For East the first spot is on the third panel of the group at the players right and for South, the spot is upon the fourth panel of the group starting from the players right. These spots indicate the dealer for each hand to be played.

In the use of the present table top structure, there are first provided eleven decks of cards, each of which is shufiled and each of which is dealt into four hands in the customary manner. These hands as they are dealt to the four players or to the four sides of the table which will be occupied by the players are placed in the card receptacles through the slots 36. This is in accordance with the usual procedure in the playing of duplicate bridge where the hands are normally shufiled and dealt inadvance of the players taking their positions at the table. With the present table structure, 11 hands may be dealt for each of the four players making possible the playing of twenty-two consecutive games without having to shuffle and deal new hands. The colored panels may be numbered or identified in any suitable manner, the identifying symbols for the panels being the same for panels of opposite groups so that at the beginning of play, each of the players in removing the first hand of cards for use would take the cards belonging to one deck. For example, the panels for the North and South positions might be designated A at the right and left-hand ends for the South and North players, respectively, and the panels at the right and left-hand ends of the groups for the players East and West, respectively, would also be indicated by the same character A. The succeeding panels might be indicated by the characters B, C, D, etc., throughout the group. Thus it will be seen that oppositely disposed panels of two opposite groups will have the same identifying characters as well asthe same colors.

When the players have taken their positions to start the game, each player removes his first hand of cards from the drawer in front of him "and each player will remove the cards from the receptacle designated by the character A. Thus the players South and East would each remove the hand at his extreme right and the players North and West would each remove the hand at his extreme left. In removing subsequent hands, each player would progress from the side or end of his card drawer from which he started, the hands being thus removed in sequence from A to K. In this manner all players would be playing hands from the same deck at each game.

As soon as a hand of cards is removed by each player, the first or dark colored panel will become illuminated, it being understood that the electric lights within the rectangular light chanther 2 had first been turned on. The black spot which is then shown on the panel A or the darkcolored panel at the left-hand end of the group before which West is seated, indicates that West is the dealer and consequently becomes the first bidder.

In making his bid, West will first turn the disk 24 of the suit indicator at his right so as to bring the aperture 26 of this disk into line with the symbol which he wishes to call. In this manner West may indicate his election to pass, bid in one of the four suits or bid a no trump. After making an indication for a suit bid or a no trump bid, West will then turn the disk 25 at his left to indicate by the number of apertures uncovered thereby, the number of tricks which he is contracting to take. As will be readily understood, because of the provision of the arcuate recess or slot 22 in the disk 20, any number of the apertures l3 may be uncovered from 1 to 7, so that light from the underlying lamp will shine therethrough and will enable the other players at the table to see how many West is bidding in the elected suit.

By providing each of the disks of the number and suit indicators with tubular pivot sleeves, it will be readily seen that as soon as the lights within the rectangular lighting chamber are turned on and before any hands of cards are removed or any of the disks are turned into indicating positions, the fact of the lights being on will be designated by the showing of a light spot at the center of each indicator.

After West has made his bid by manipulation of the indicators as described, the bidding will then proceed in the customary manner to North and so on around the table, each of the players designating his intentions with regard to the bidding, by the manipulation of the indicators at his right and left.

After the bidding has closed, all of the players except the one who has succeeded in getting the bid, turn their indicator disks back until no illuminated spots appear upon the panels. The player who has the bid leaves the disks of his indicators in the position to which they had been finally turned by him. By'this means each of the other players at the table may see at a glance what is trumps and how much was bid in the trump suit.

Aspreviously stated, all of the panels designated by the characterAbecame illuminated when the hands of cards were removed from the receptacles beneath them. All of these panels are of the same dark color blue or green and thus indicate that no one of the players is vulnerable. As subsequent hands are withdrawn, the color of the corresponding panels which are illuminated advises the players as to who is or is not vulnerable. If the illuminated panel in front of a player is red, he is vulnerable and if it is a dark-colored blue or green panel, he is not vulnerable. On the playing of the next or second hand from beneath the panels B, it will be seen that North and South are vulnerable as the sec- 0nd or B panels are red, whereas East and West are not vulnerable as their 13 panels are darkcolored or blue. By the provision of the slides 28 upon which the card drawers 33 are supported, the card drawers may be readily removed and reversed to turn the open ends or slots 36 of the same inwardly and in this manner the cards may be kept as dealt into hands, ready for use without danger of them falling out of their receptacles if the table is moved.

In playing the game duplicate bridge, the players do not throw their cards on to the center of the table as in playing ordinary bridge, but each player as he plays his card merely turns it face up or shows it in front of him. After all of the four players have shown their cards, the player who takes the trick places his winning card in front of him to extend lengthwise between himself and his partner and each of the other players places his card on the table in a position to extend transversely of the area between him and his partner or, in other words, parallel with the adjacent side of the table. In this manner, each of the players keeps in front of him the cards of his hand and after the hand has been played, these cards are gathered up and replaced in the receptacle from which they were removed. It will thus be seen that at the end of each game, the tricks taken by each team can be easily counted by counting those cards which are disposed to extend from the player toward the center of the table.

This manner of playing is necessary in order that the opposing team may have the same opportunity with the same cards as were previously played by their opponents, this being an essential feature of the game of duplicate bridge.

In this game, after a certain number of hands have been played, the players change positions so that one team then plays with the cards which were previously used by the other team.

While in referring to the several receptacles along each edge of the table, these have been designated by the letters of the alphabet starting with A and running in consecutive order in the direction in which the cards are consecutively removed by the players, it may be desirable in order to make it difficult for the players of the two teams to remember the cards played from-a particular receptacle of the opposing team when the shift is made, to mix up the arrangement of the identifying characters which are placed adjacent the colored panels. It is, therefore, to be understood that the particular manner of designating the colored panels which is here shown, may be altered if desired by mixing the identifying letters or the panels may be identified by numerals placed to run from 1 to 11 consecutively or mixed up as may be desired.

What is claimed is: r l

1. In a card table of the character described,

a rectangular body providing a playing surface, means at one end of each of the four side edges of the body for selectively indicating a suit bid, means at the other end of each of the four side edges of the body for indicating the number of tricks contracted for, means extending along each of the four side edges of the body between each pair of indicating means for receiving a number of hands of cards and supporting the hands with the ends thereof exposed for selective removal, each of said hand receiving means having a light transmitting panel lying thereover and forming a part of the playing surface, and means for illuminating each of said panels, which is so constructed and arranged that the said hands of cards when in the receiving means therefor shut off the illumination from the panels and when removed allow the illuminating means to illuminate the panel 2. A bridge table of the character described, comprising a rectangular body providing a playing surface, means formed along each of the four side edges of said body providing a series of outwardly opening receptacles each adapted to receive a hand of cards, said receptacles having top and bottom openings whereby light may pass vertically therethrough when the cards are removed therefrom, means forming a light chamber beneath each group of receptacles, means for illuminating each of said chambers, a colored panel for each of said receptacles and forming a part of said playing surface over a receptacle, said colored panel being of light transmitting material and being illuminated from the underlying light chamber only when the underlying hand of cards is removed, and means at each of the four sides of the table by which the player adjacent that side may indicate a bid and the number of a suit bid.

3. A bridge table of the character described, comprising a rectangular body forming a playing surface, means providing a rectangular upwardly opening chamber beneath said body and along each side thereof, means for illuminating said rectangular chamber, an elongated card receiving drawer extending lengthwise of each side and disposed between said body and the adjacent rectangular chamber, said drawer being provided with a number of outwardly opening recesses forming receptacles for hands of cards, each of said drawers having transverse openings passing vertically through the receptacles for trans mitting light from the underlying chamber upwardly toward the top body, a plurality of light transmitting panels carried by the top body along each of its four sides and each panel overlying a card receptacle, the panels upon two opposite sides of the table being alternately light and darkcolored with the colors of one group located oppositely to the colors of the other group, the panels of the other two oppositely related groups being divided into pairs of alternately dark and light colors, the pairs of one group being arranged opposite to the correspondingly colored pairs of the other group, the said colored panels facilitating the recognition of vulnerable and non-vulnerable players, and indicator means at each end of each group of panels facilitating the designation by each player of the character of a bid and the number of tricks contracted for.

4. A bridge table structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular top, a group of light transmitting panels set in said top along and parallel with each of the four sides thereof, certain of said panels of each group being of a transmitting color distinct from the remaining panels of that group, the panels of each of two opposite groups being arranged in pairs of the same color and disposed opposite from correspondingly colored pairs, the colored panels of the other two opposite groups being alternately arranged and having the colors of one group directly opposite from the corresponding colors of the opposite group, a card receptacle having an open top and bottom and disposed beneath each of said panels, means for projecting light upwardly through each receptacle to light up the overlying panel when cards are removed from the receptacle, means at each end of each panel group by which a player may indicate a bid and the amount thereof, and means associated with certain of the panels of each group for designating the dealers for successively played hands as the card hands are removed in a prescribed order from the receptacles, the color arrangement of said panels designating vulnerability or non-vulnerability of the players.

5. A bridge table topof the character described, comprising a rectangular body forming a playing surface, means extending along each of the four side edges of the body providing a pluralityof stationary receivers for hands of cards, said receivers being individually accessible for the removal of the cards therefrom, means visible through the playing surface for indicating the removal of a hand of cards from any one of said receivers, said visible means being so constructed and arranged as to also indicate the dealer and the vulnerability or non-vulnerability of the player, means viewable through the play surface at one end of each plurality of receivers for designating a players bid, said last means including a series of symbols and means for selectively illuminating the same, and means at the opposite end of each plurality of receivers and viewable through said surface for indicating the amount of a bid, said last means including means for progressively uncovering a plurality of light openings and lighting means therefor.

6. A bridge table top structure, comprising a rectangular body forming a play surface, means forming a rectangular upwardly opening chamber beneath the body and bordering the same, means forming a pair of spaced recesses at each side of the body, each of said recesses having a bottom wall provided with a series of openings leading into said chamber, an elongated body disposed over the open top of each side of said chamber between a pair of recesses, said last body having a longitudinally arranged series of card receiving receptacles formed therein and opening through the outer side thereof and further having vertically spaced alined openings communicating with each receptacle, light transmitting panels in said top along each side edge and each overlying the vertically spaced openings of a receptacle, a disk rotatably mounted in each recess and having a portion projecting beyond the adjacent side of the first-mentioned body whereby its rotation may be facilitated, one of said disks associated with each pair of recesses having a single aperture therethrough and the other disk having an arcuate slot therethrough, the aperture and the slot of said disks being arranged for movement over the adjacent underlying series of bottom openings, a light transmitting panel in said first body over each disk, the panel overlying that disk having the single aperture having a series of symbols directly overlying the adjacent bottom openings, and means for illuminating said chamber.

'7. A bridge table top structure, comprising a rectangular body forming a play surface, means forming a rectangular upwardly opening chamand each overlying the vertically spaced openings of a receptacle, a disk rotatably mounted in each recess and having a portion projecting beyond the adjacent side of the first-mentioned body whereby its rotation may be facilitated, one of said disks associated with each pair of recesses having a single aperture therethrough and the other disk having an arcuate slot therethrough, the aperture and the slot of said disks being arranged for movement over the adjacent underlying series of bottom openings, a light transmitting panel in said first body over each disk, the panel overlying that disk having the single aperture having a series of symbols directly overlying the adjacent bottom openings, means for illuminating said chamber, each of the recesses of each pair merging into a recess of an adjacent pair, and spring means disposed between each two merging recesses and adapted to frictionally engage the disks therein to maintain the disks in a set position.

8. A bridge table top, comprising a rectangular body forming a play surface, means disposed beneath and bordering said body forming an upwardly opening rectangular channel, a plurality of lighting elements in each of the. four sides of said channel, a body overlying the open top of said channeland having an upstanding portion at each of its four corners, the body being provided with an elongated opening along each of its four sides between the upstanding portions and overlying the adjacent channel, each of said upstanding corner portions having an upwardly opening pair of recesses each having a series of bottom openings leading into said channel, a disk rotatably mounted in each of said recesses and having a portion of its edge projecting beyond the adjacent side of the first-mentioned body, the adjacent recesses and disks at any one side of the first-mentioned body forming a pair, one of the disks of a pair having a single aperture therethrough and the other disk of the pair having an arcuate slot therethrough, said aperture and said slot being arranged to move over the adjacent series of bottom openings upon turning of the disk, an elongated drawer disposed over each of the four slots of the second-mentioned body, each of said drawers having a series of outwardly opening card receiving receptacles and alined top and bottom openings leading through the receptacles to the underlying channel, a light transmitting panel in the first body overlying each of said receptacles, and a light transmitting panel in the first-mentioned body overlying each of said disks, the panels overlying the disks having the single aperture, having a plurality of symbols thereon arranged directly above the adjacent series of bottom openings.

9. A bridge table top, comprising a rectangular body forming a play surface, means disposed beneath and bordering said body forming an upwardly opening rectangular channel, a plurality of lighting elements in each of the four sides of said channel, a body overlying the open top of said channel and having an upstanding portion at each of its four corners, the body being provided with an elongated opening along each of its four sides between the upstanding portions and overlying the adjacent channel, each of said upstanding corner portions having an upwardly opening pair of recesses each having a series of bottom openings leading into said channel, a disk rotatably mounted in each of said recesses and having a portion of its edge projecting beyond the adjacent side of the first-mentioned body, the adjacent recesses and disks at any one side of the first-mentioned body forming a pair, one of the disks of a pair having a single aperture therethrough and the other disk of the pair having an arcuate slot therethrough, said aperture and said slot being arranged to move over the adjacent series of bottom openings upon turning of the disk, an elongated drawer disposed over each of the four slots of the second-mentioned body, each of said drawers having a series of outwardly opening card receiving receptacles and alined top and bottom openings leading through the receptacles to the underlying channel, a light transmitting panel in the first body overlying each of said receptacles, a light transmitting panel in the first-mentioned body overlying each of said disks, the panels overlying the disks having the single aperture, having a plurality of symbols thereon arranged directly above the adjacent series of bottom openings, a slide interposed between each of said drawers and the underlying body and adapted to be moved relative to the first and second-mentioned bodies, and means for detachably coupling each drawer with the underlying slide whereby the drawer may be shifted with the slide.

10. A bridge table top, comprising a rectangular body forming a play surface, means disposed beneath and bordering said body forming an upwardly opening rectangular channel, a plurality of lighting elements in each of the four sides of said channel, a body overlying the open top of said channel and having an upstanding portion at each of its four corners, the body being provided with an elongated opening along each of its four sides between the upstanding portions and overlying the adjacent channel, each of said upstanding corner portions having an upwardly opening pair of recesses each having a series of bottom openings leading into said channel, a disk rotatably mounted in each of said recesses and having a portion of its edge projecting beyond the adjacent side of the first-mentioned body, the adjacent recesses and disks at any one side of the first-mentioned body forming a pair, one of the disks of a pair having a single aperture therethrough and the other disk of the pair having an arcuate slot therethrough, said aperture and said slot being arranged to move over the adjacent series of bottom openings upon turning of the disk, an elongated drawer disposed over each of the four slots of the secondmentioned body, each of said drawers having a series of outwardly opening card receiving receptacles and alined top and bottom openings leading through the receptacles to the underlying channel, a light transmitting panel in the first body overlying each of said receptacles, a light transmitting panel in the first-mentioned body overlying each of said disks, the panels overlying the disks having the single aperture, having a plurality of symbols thereon arranged directly above the adjacent series of bottom openings, the said panels overlying the card receptacles being distinctively colored and arranged to facilitate identification during bidding when a receptacle panel of each player is illuminated of the vulnerability and non-vulnerability of the players and certain of said last-mentioned panels further being distinctively marked to designate the dealer when corresponding receptacle panels of the players are illuminated at the beginning of each game.

11. A rectangular body providing a flat card playing surface, includirg an elongated chamber formed within the body longitudinally of each of its four side edges, means in the top surface of the body over each of said longitudinal chambers forming light transmitting panels, the body along each of its four edges having an elongated outwardly opening recess extending into the adjacent chamber, an elongated body formed for extension through each of said recesses into the upper part of the adjacent chamber, each of said elongated bodies having a plurality of transversely extending chambers opening through the side of the elongated body nearest the adjacent edge of the first body forming receptacles for hands of cards, said elongated body having top and bottom alined openings opening into each of the card receiving receptacles and alined with said panels, and means in each of the first-mentioned chambers beneath the elongated body for projecting light upwardly through the alined openings and through the receptacle to the overlying panels when the card hands are removed from the receptacles.

12. A rectangular body providing a ilat card playing surface including an elongated chamber formed within the body longitudinally of each of its four side edges, means in the top surface of the body over each of said longitudinal chambers forming light transmitting panels, the body along each of its four edges having an elongated outwardly opening recess extending into the adjacent chamber, an elongated body formed for insertion through each of said recesses into the upper part of the adjacent chamher to extend lengthwise in the chamber, each of said elongated bodies having a plurality of transversely extending chambers each opening at one end only through one side of the elongated body and forming a receptacle for a hand of cards, said elongated body having top and bottom alined openings opening into each of the card receiving receptacles and alining with said panels when the elongated body is in place in its receiving chamber, a slide plate extending horizontally through each of said outwardly opening body recesses, each of said plates having openings alining with the top and bottom openings of the supported body, said plate facilitating the withdrawal of the supported body from the body chamber, and. means in each of the firstmentioned chambers beneath the elongated body for projecting light upwardly through the alined openings and through the receptacle to the overlying panels when the card hands are removed from the receptacles.

LELAND O. QUILLIN. ROY L. COOK. 

